Abstract

This collection consists of the papers of Unitarian
minister and historian George E. Ellis, including correspondence; addresses,
sermons, and lectures; research papers; diaries; records of the Harvard Church
(Charlestown, Mass.); and other volumes and papers.

Biographical Sketch

George Edward Ellis was a Unitarian minister and historian from Boston,
Mass. The son of David and Sarah (Rogers) Ellis, he graduated from Harvard in
1833 and from Harvard Theological School in 1836. After a tour of Europe in
1838-1839, he preached at various churches in the Boston area until his
ordination as minister of Harvard Church in Charlestown, Mass. in 1840. He
served there for nearly 30 years, resigning in 1869. From 1857 to 1863, he was
Professor of Systematic Theology at the Harvard Divinity School. He wrote and
lectured on American history and religion and served as editor of the
Christian Register and the
Christian Examiner. He was also a member of
several historical societies, a Harvard overseer, and a trustee of the
Massachusetts General Hospital. He served as vice president of the
Massachusetts Historical Society from 1877 to 1885, and as president from 1885
until his death in 1894.

Ellis married Elizabeth Bruce Eager in 1840. They had one child, John
Harvard Ellis (1841-1870), before she died in 1842. Ellis remarried in 1859 to
Lucretia Goddard Gould (1831-1869).

Collection Description

This collection consists of the papers of Unitarian minister and historian
George E. Ellis, including personal and professional correspondence; manuscript
addresses, sermons, and lectures; miscellaneous papers related to his research
on Quakers, Count Rumford, and other subjects; diaries, including European
travel diaries, 1838-1839; pew and parish records of the Harvard Church,
Charlestown, Mass.; account books; school notebooks; scrapbooks and
inventories; and other volumes. Many of the papers relate to his education and
professorship at Harvard, his years as minister of the Harvard Church, and his
work with the Massachusetts Historical Society. The collection also contains a
diary of Ellis's second wife Lucretia Goddard (Gould) Ellis; a genealogy of the
Ellis and Rogers families by his son John H. Ellis; pew deeds of New South
(Sixth) Church; and manuscript writings of minister George W. Webster of
Wheeling, W.Va.

Among the family members represented are George's wife Lucretia Goddard
(Gould) Ellis, son John H. Ellis, daughter-in-law Grace Atkinson (Little)
Ellis, brother Rufus Ellis, brothers-in-law Benjamin Apthorp Gould and Horace
McMurtrie, sisters-in-law Mary Apthorp (Quincy) Gould and Louisa Goddard
(Gould) McMurtrie, and niece Lucy. Included are many letters from Lucretia
Ellis to Mrs. Eager, probably Eliza Eager, the mother of George Ellis's first
wife, as well as letters from Eliza Eager to George. The disbound volume also
contains deeds for pews in the New South Meeting House and requests for
prayers.

The subseries also contains a box of index cards (Box 13A) listing most of
Ellis's correspondents, arranged alphabetically. Each card describes a single
letter. Researchers looking for correspondence of a specific individual may
want to consult these cards to find the dates of letters.

Box 1

Undated

Box 2

1773-1887

Box 3

1888-1895

Box 4

Disbound volume (1 of 10),
1812-1841

Box 5

Disbound volume (2 of 10),
1842-1849

Box 6

Disbound volume (3 of 10),
1850-1857

Box 7

Disbound volume (4 of 10),
1858-1863

Box 8

Disbound volume (5 of 10),
1864-1868

Box 9

Disbound volume (6 of 10),
1869-1872

Box 10

Disbound volume (7 of 10),
1873-1878

Box 11

Disbound volume (8 of 10),
1879-1882

Box 12

Disbound volume (9 of 10),
1883-1888

Box 13

Disbound volume (10 of 10),
1889-1894

This box includes a letter to Ellis from Helen Keller, 27 Apr. 1891. Click
here to view
this letter online.

Box 13A

Index cards, undated

B. Addresses, sermons, and lectures,
1836-1875

This subseries contains manuscript addresses, sermons, and lectures by
Ellis. Many of the sermons include annotations on when and where they were
delivered.

Box 14

Addresses,
1836-1875, most undated

Box 15

Sermons,
1839-1858

Box 16

Sermons,
1856-1866

Box 17Folder 1-4

Sermons,
1866-1869

Box 17Folder 5-18

Sermons, undated,
1839-1868; lectures, undated

Box 18Folder 1-4

Lowell Lectures: "Evidences of Christianity," I-XII,
[1864]

Box 18Folder 5-10

Lowell Lectures: "Provincial History of Massachusetts," I-XII,
[1871]

C. Miscellaneous papers,
1769-1897

Box 19Folder 1-2

Correspondence on the Hutchinson papers at the Massachusetts
Historical Society,
1868-1873

These papers relate to a dispute over the ownership of the Thomas Hutchinson
papers at the MHS, originally donated by Alden Bradford. The Massachusetts
legislature argued that the papers were state property, and the MHS ultimately
lost their case and returned the collection to the state.

Box 19Folder 3-6

"History of the Persecution of the Quakers in New England," a paper
and notes, undated

Box 19Folder 7

Notes on parishioners of the Harvard Church, Charlestown,
1855-1874

Box 20

George W. Webster writings, undated

Included are drafts of poetry and prose writings by George Washington
Webster (1823-1872). A note by Ellis reads: "These manuscripts were sent to me,
to keep in charge, by the Rev. G. W. Webster, once Unitarian minister of
Wheeling, Va. A man of much, but erratic, genius. He had received my help for
his Family. He was deranged."

Box 21Folder 1-6

Count Rumford papers,
1769-1854

These papers relate to Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford (1753-1814), and
consist primarily of correspondence of his daughter Sarah Thompson, Countess
Rumford (1774-1852). Included are a number of letters from her to James Fowle
Baldwin (1782-1862). Ellis wrote the Memoir of Sir
Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford (1871).

Box 21Folder 7-15

G. E. Ellis correspondence regarding Rumford,
1868-1897

Box 21Folder 16-18

Transcripts of records on Rumford, undated

II. Volumes,
1819-1895

A. Diaries,
1833-1894

This subseries contains the diaries of George E. Ellis, kept primarily at
Charlestown and Boston, including 8 line-a-day diaries in printed almanacs,
1833-1842; a volume entitled "Original Thoughts &c," 1835-1869; 7 volumes
documenting his trip to Europe, 1838-1839; and 25 pocket diaries, 1858-1894.
The line-a-day diaries contain brief entries, primarily noting various churches
where he preached each week, but also including some entries related to his
Harvard education and lectures attended. The volume entitled "Original
Thoughts" is partly a memoranda book with notes on his reading and religious
reflections, 1835. Diary entries in that volume date from 1836 and 1839-1869
and describe his daily activities, news of family members, etc. Ellis's trip to
Europe, 1838-1839, is covered in 7 volumes, including 5 diaries, one memoranda
book, and one manuscript sightseeing guide entitled "Sketch of a Tour thro.
Europe." The 5 travel diaries contain detailed descriptions of sights seen in
England, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland,
Italy, and France. The 25 pocket diaries, 1858-1894, document Ellis's daily
activities, social calls, news of family members, his writing work, and his
participation in local organizations.

The subseries also contains one diary of Lucretia Goddard Gould before her
marriage to Ellis, kept primarily in Roxbury and Boston, Mass. Entries describe
Goddard and Gould family matters, social calls, lessons, her thoughts on
sermons she heard, and her efforts at self-improvement. The volume also
contains Latin exercises from Mr. Weisse's school, 1845, and miscellaneous
memoranda.

Box 22Folder 1

Line-a-day diary in an almanac,
1833

Box 22Folder 1

Line-a-day diary in an almanac,
1836

Box 22Folder 2

Line-a-day diary in an almanac,
1837

Box 22Folder 2

Line-a-day diary in an almanac,
1838

Box 22Folder 3

Line-a-day diary in an almanac,
1839

Box 22Folder 3

Line-a-day diary in an almanac,
1840

Box 22Folder 4

Line-a-day diary in an almanac,
1841

Box 22Folder 4

Line-a-day diary in an almanac,
1842

Box 22Folder 5

"Original Thoughts &c,"
1835-1869

Box 22Folder 6

"Sketch of a Tour thro. Europe,"
ca. 1838-1839

Box 22Folder 7

Memoranda book (trip to Europe),
ca. 1838-1839

Box 22Folder 7

Diary of a trip to Europe (1 of 5),
5 May-13 July 1838

Available on microfilm, P-306.

Box 22Folder 8

Diary of a trip to Europe (2 of 5),
17 July-15 Sep. 1838

Available on microfilm, P-306.

Box 23Folder 1

Diary of a trip to Europe (3 of 5),
16 Sep.-3 Nov. 1838

Available on microfilm, P-306.

Box 23Folder 2

Diary of a trip to Europe (4 of 5),
4 Nov. 1838-9 Feb. 1839

Box 23Folder 3

Diary of a trip to Europe (5 of 5),
11 Feb.-15 Apr. 1839

Box 23Folder 4

Pocket diary,
1858-1859

Box 23Folder 4

Pocket diary,
1860-1867

Box 23Folder 5

Pocket diary,
1869-21 May 1870

Box 23Folder 5

Pocket diary,
22 May 1870-1871

Box 23Folder 6

Pocket diary,
1872-31 Mar. 1873

Box 23Folder 6

Pocket diary,
1 Apr. 1873-31 May 1875

Box 24Folder 1

Pocket diary,
1 June 1875-10 Sep. 1876

Box 24Folder 1

Pocket diary,
11 Sep. 1876-1877

Box 24Folder 1

Pocket diary,
1878

Box 24Folder 1

Pocket diary,
1879

Box 24Folder 2

Pocket diary,
1880

Box 24Folder 2

Pocket diary,
1881

Box 24Folder 2

Pocket diary,
1882

Box 24Folder 2

Pocket diary,
1883

Box 24Folder 3

Pocket diary,
1884

Box 24Folder 3

Pocket diary,
1885

Box 24Folder 3

Pocket diary,
1886

Box 24Folder 3

Pocket diary,
1887

Box 24Folder 4

Pocket diary,
1888

Box 24Folder 4

Pocket diary,
1889

Box 24Folder 4

Pocket diary,
1890

Box 24Folder 4

Pocket diary,
1891

Box 24Folder 5

Pocket diary,
1892

Box 24Folder 5

Pocket diary,
1893

Box 24Folder 5

Pocket diary,
1894

Box 24Folder 6

Diary of Lucretia Goddard Gould,
17 Aug. 1848-19 Apr. 1854, with gaps

B. Harvard Church volumes,
1840-1873

This subseries consists of volumes related to the Harvard Church in
Charlestown, Mass., where Ellis preached from 1840 to 1869. Included are two
lists of pew owners, records of the Ministry at Large, 16 small paperbound
volumes documenting Ellis's visits to members of the parish, and an undated
list of parish members with some annotations.

Box 25Folder 1

Pew owners list,
1840

Vol. 1

Records of the Ministry at Large, Charlestown,
1846-1873

This volume contains meeting minutes and reports of the Harvard Church
Ministry at Large. Nathaniel S. Folsom was appointed minister at large in 1846,
and Oliver C. Everett succeeded him in 1850.

"Remarks made on a visit to Europe," by Ezra Stiles Gannett,
1838 [draft]

Box 30Folder 2

Records of the Harvard Theological School,
1857-1863

This volume contains meeting minutes kept by Ellis during his tenure as
Professor of Systematic Theology, as well as subjects of lectures and
discussions.

Box 30Folder 3

Genealogical material, by John H. Ellis,
1862-1869

This volume of George E. Ellis's son John contains a genealogy of the Rogers
family, a biography of Sarah (Rogers) Ellis, a copy of the will of David Ellis,
and other material.

Box 30Folder 4

"Sketches of the Late Count Rumford,"
1870

The full title reads: "Sketches of the Late Count Rumford; mostly of which
not before published. This collection begun and finished in 1851 at Concord New
Hampshire, by his Daughter. Copied at the request of Mr. Joseph B. Walker, by
Emma G. Burgum the 5th February 1870." Included is a biography and copies of
correspondence.

Preferred Citation

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in
ABIGAIL,
the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers
desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should
search the catalog using these headings.

Persons:

Ellis family--Genealogy.

Ellis, John Harvard, 1841-1870.

Ellis, Lucretia Goddard Gould,
1831-1869.

Rogers family--Genealogy.

Rumford, Benjamin, Graf von,
1753-1814.

Webster, George Washington,
1823-1872.

Organizations:

Harvard Church (Charlestown, Boston,
Mass.).

Harvard University--Faculty.

Harvard University--Students.

Massachusetts Historical Society.

New South Church (Boston, Mass.).

Subjects:

Commonplace-books.

Europe--Description and
travel--1800-1918.

Historians--Massachusetts--Boston.

History--Research.

Lectures and
lecturing--Massachusetts--Boston.

Libraries--Massachusetts--Boston.

Private libraries.

Quakers--Massachusetts.

Scrapbooks.

Sermons.

Unitarian churches--Clergy.

Voyages and travels--Diaries.

Women's diaries.

Materials Removed from the Collection

Photographs from this collection have been removed to the Ellis family
photographs (Photo. Coll. 500.43).

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